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The Western Frontier takes on a whole new colorful life with the world premiere musical of “Bella: An American Tall Tale” at Dallas Center Theater’s Wyly Theatre. With a perfect, shoot-em-up backdrop, this larger than life western tale leads the audience through several chains of discovery as Bella embarks on a train ride full of options that lead to an entirely different outcome in life and a powerful lesson in rediscovery at the hands of generations of persistence and purposeful relationships.
From the opening scene, it is evident that the stage design and costume selection plays a large role in developing the elements that are crucial to character development of the tall tale that re-enacts a train ride which fully engages the audience to feel like they have the best seat on a moving target which only slows down long enough the pick up one more lesson on living. Creative-minded Bella, at 16 years of age, is put on a train and sent away to be protected from the elements of her civil disobedience. Along the way, she encounters several persons with whom she shares her life’s story and in exchange, the disbelief in what she has had to endure causes conflict after conflict because she doesn’t realize that her overconfidence and own lack of self-worth perpetuates her need to have someone else substantiate her existence. Through trial and error, heartbreak and loss, she begins to learn that she is worthy of good things in life that aren’t tied to her physical state of being a large black woman with a voluptuous rear end. Throughout the musical, several themes of racial and physical injustice are brought to light and handled professionally and admirably, but with enough relativity to modern day circumstances to force social awareness and introspection amongst the audience in a comfort-altering format. I can’t say enough about how timely this piece is and how well the stories are intertwined to make it wildly entertaining, educational, thought-provoking and humorously provocative.
Ashley D. Kelley is outstanding in her role as Bella, and each member of the cast only adds more levels of greatness as the story unfolds. The roles, characterization, vocals and constantly changing themes of redemption through human flaws in character, make for a wonderful theatrical experience. For a quality night of excellent entertainment that will keep you impatiently waiting for the next surprise, be sure to catch this world premiere that is determined to make lemons into boot-scootin’ lemonade.
Now playing at the Dallas Theater Center September 22 – October 22
